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VANCOUVER – Firefighters will be using controlled burns to battle fires in some parts of British Columbia.

Bill Miller of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako says controlled burns will start today around the 37-square-kilometre China Nose fire southeast of Houston.

Miller says concerns heavy winds would feed the fire prompted an evacuation order of 120 houses days ago, but the advisory has since been downgraded to about 20, though people living in more than 600 homes have been asked to be ready to leave.

The Ministry of Environment says other controlled burns will occur Monday near Canal Flats, Elkford and Invermere in efforts to contain lightning-caused fires in the area.

Authorities say several of these wildfires are located in very steep and dangerous terrain and the burn-offs are necessary to limit the growth and direction of the fires, which have been named the White Complex.

Government says the objective is to guide the flames toward control lines at the valley bottoms where they can be contained.

The ministry says no communities or structures are threatened by any of the White Complex at this time.